Download the all-new Republic app:

Published 20:23 IST, April 10th 2019

PM Modi, US President Trump wishe Israeli PM Netanyahu for his election win

PM Narendra Modi has congratulated Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on  Wednesday morning, winning the Israeli elections after more than 95 percent of the votes gave the Right-wing bloc a 10-seat lead over the Left.

Follow: Google News Icon
  • share
null | Image: self
Advertisement

PM Narendra Modi has congratulated Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on Wednesday morning for winning the Israeli elections after more than 95 percent of the votes gave the Right-wing bloc a 10-seat lead over the Left. This would mean that  Netanyahu would be sworn in for a 5th term as Prime Minister of Israel.

PM Modi tweeted his wishes saying that he valued their friendship and looked forward to working with the Israeli Priminister who is often referred as 'Bibi'.

Advertisement

He also tweeted his wishes in Hebrew:

Netanyahu's Likud Party was tied with his rival Benny Gantz's Kahol Lavan party with 35 seats each. Both leaders had made victory speeches after the exit polls, vowing to be "everyone's Prime Minister." But almost all right-wing parties have said they would recommend to the president that Netanyahu form the next ruling coalition.

Advertisement

READ| Netanyahu Vows To Annex West Bank Settlements If Re-elected On Tuesday's Presidential Election

US President Donald Trump too, has wished Prime Minister Netanyahu for his win while addressing reporters outside the White House.

Advertisement

"Everybody said you can't have peace in the Middle East with Israel and the Palestinians... I think we have now a better chance with Bibi having won," Trump said.

Netanyahu had stirred up a controversy on Saturday when he said that he would annex settlements in the occupied West Bank if he wins Tuesday's elections.

Advertisement

"I am going to apply Israeli sovereignty, but I do not distinguish between settlement blocs and isolated settlements. From my perspective, each of those settlement points is Israeli. We have the responsibility [for them] as the government of Israel. I don't uproot any, and I won't transfer them to the sovereignty of the Palestinians. I take care of them all," said Netanyahu as quoted by Times of Israel.

According to some of his officials, last month's US recognition of Golan Heights as Israel part has reportedly, had bolstered Netanyahu to further claim West Bank. Netanyahu believes US President Donald Trump "would give him backing and legitimization to annex or extend Israeli law to all West Bank settlements or at least some of the blocs," an anonymous Israel official said. However, Netanyahu has made it clear to Trump that he did not intend to evacuate "a single person" from any West Bank settlements.

19:55 IST, April 10th 2019